It was the best of runs, it was the worst of runs…

Lucky for Them, I’m a Runner.

Today, I dropped my car off at this auto mechanic I’ve never been to before. I made the appointment a week ago. I told them what I needed done then. I dropped the car off at 8am, like I had discussed with them a week ago. I checked online, it said they were open until 6pm. My husband said he could leave work early to take me back over there. At 3pm, they called me. They said that they just now checked the car, and they can’t fix any of the stuff I asked for unless I can leave it for the weekend.

Me: “I can’t do that, I work on Saturday.”

Them: “Ok, then we’ll just do an oil change.”

They call back at 4:30. They tell me it’s ready and they close at 5.

Me: “It says you close at 6 online.”

Them: “Nope we close at 5.”

So, the place is 1.6 miles from my house, I now have 22 minutes to get there. I throw on my sneakers and head out the door. I walk 10 minutes, and realize I’m not gonna make it unless I run. Now, this wouldn’t be that big of a deal, if I hadn’t already run over 6 miles today and it hadn’t been over 90 degrees outside, so it was much harder and slower than usual to begin with.

If I only knew then what I know now…

I start running. My legs are still pretty tight, so I’m going slow. I check my watch and realize I have to pick up the pace if I’m gonna make it on time. I also have to run along the highway and cross two on-ramps to a major freeway to get there (real safe stuff going on here).

I make it there at 4:56.

There’s no one at the counter. I’m dripping with sweat, and smell, no doubt. I scan the counter for a bell or something of the sort to signal my presence. Nothing. I decide that shouting is the only option.

“Hello?” I bellow into the cavernous garage. I see movement in the back, and then hear a voice reply, “oh! I’m coming!”

They arrive at the counter.

Them: “oh, did you run here?”

Me: “Yes.”

Them: “oh, we didn’t want you to go crazy to get here.”

Me: (panting) “It’s Ok, I run all the time.”

Them: Well, it’s not really safe to run today, even if you’re used to it, right?’

Me: … (refraining from commenting, mainly because I couldn’t form complete sentences yet)

At this point, they hand me my bill. $114. (FOR AN OIL CHANGE????)

Me: “I got charged for something?”

Them: “Yes, they had to check for the things you asked, you just didn’t want them to fix it.”

Me: “No, that’s not what I said. I did want to fix it, but you told me I had to leave my car for the weekend, and I said I can’t do that.”

Them: “oh, yeah. Well, we’re not open on the weekends.”

Me: “So nothing is fixed.”

Them: “No, if you bring it back that charge will be figured in.”

Me: “Can I please have my keys?”

I left, disgruntled and disgusted. Not only was nothing fixed, but I was charged for nothing to be fixed, and now I still have to get said things fixed on a day I’m off from work.

The best of runs, the worst of runs: A Tale of Two Sneakers

So, the place is 1.6 miles from my house, I now have 22 minutes to get there. I throw on my sneakers and head out the door. I walk 10 minutes, and realize I’m not gonna make it unless I run. Now, this wouldn’t be that big of a deal, if I hadn’t already run over 6 miles today and it hadn’t been over 90 degrees outside…

As I ran my 9 miles through the park yesterday, I thought to myself, I will never take my runs or my rights for granted. Someone years ago worked hard to give me the freedom to choose how I want to live my life.

If I can achieve my running goals, I can achieve my life goals. If I can stop comparing my running to other people’s running, I can stop comparing my life to other people’s lives. If I can run happy, I can live happy.